MADISON, Wis. – The pilot of a downed F16 fighter jet was found dead in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Wisconsin Air National Guard announced. Details would be forthcoming the Guard said. The commander of the 115th Squadron at Truax Field, Colonel Bart Van Roo, said: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.” The pilot was on a night training mission with fellow 115th pilots from Truax. His single-seat plane went down about 8 p.m., Wednesday.
Truax profile
Truax Field was an active military base from 1942 to 1968, when it was taken over by the Wisconsin Air National Guard. It’s located five miles northeast of downtown Madison at the Dane County commercial airport but separate. The field was named after Wisconsin native Lieutenant Thomas Truax, a Wisconsin native who was killed in a P40 Warhawk aircraft training accident in 1941.